The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to approve legislation on Wednesday that would force the popular TikTok video app to separate from its Chinese parent ByteDance or sell a U.S. version of the software.
Rep. Mike Gallagher, chairman of the House Select Committee, said the bipartisan Protecting Americans from Apps Controlled by Foreign Adversaries Act “gives TikTok six months to eliminate foreign adversaries.” of control — which includes ByteDance divesting its current ownership — so that it can continue to be used in the United States,” Rep. Discussion by Raja Krishnamoorthi.
“All TikTok has to do is separate from the CCP-controlled ByteDance. However, if TikTok chooses not to break free from CCP control, the app will no longer be available in the U.S. App Store. But TikTok has only itself to blame,” the lawmaker said in a statement stated in a prepared statement.
Here’s what we know about the legislation and what’s coming next in the U.S. Senate.
Why is TikTok censored?
Caitlin Chin-Rothmann, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA: “The concern is that TikTok may transfer personal information to its parent company ByteDance, which This information may then be transferred to the Chinese government.”
Chin-Rothmann said concerns among some members of Congress that the Chinese Communist Party might control the TikTok algorithm for propaganda purposes have not yet been proven.
“This is not to say that the Chinese government will not exert pressure in the future,” she said.
What does TikTok think of this legislation?
TikTok on Monday called the legislation a “ban” and has repeatedly denied the accusations against it. The company said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) last week that “the legislation has one predetermined outcome: a total ban on TikTok in the United States.”
What do lawmakers think of the legislation?
The bill has strong support from both House Democrats and Republicans, even as congressional offices have been flooded with calls from Americans concerned about being unable to use social media apps.
“This is an important bipartisan measure aimed at confronting our greatest geopolitical enemy, China, which is actively undermining our economy and security,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters last week.
What about the Senate?
The bill may face a tougher road to passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer saying the bill will be considered in the appropriate committees.
“I will listen to their views on the bill and determine the best path forward,” Schumer said in a statement.
Some Senate Democrats, including Senate Intelligence Select Committee Chairman Mark Warner, have expressed doubts about the legality of singling out social media apps in the legislation. He proposed broader alternative legislation targeting apps that collect personal data.
But Warner told CBS News on Sunday that the TikTok app is a serious national security issue.
“If you think the Chinese Communist Party can’t twist that algorithm to make the news they see reflect their views, then I don’t think you realize the nature of the threat,” Warner said.
What do 2024 presidential candidates think of this bill?
The White House said it welcomed the legislation, even though the Biden campaign recently joined TikTok in an effort to appeal to younger voters.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters the bill ensures “ownership is not left in the hands of those who could do us harm.”
Former President Donald Trump initially called for the app to be banned in 2020, but has now changed course, arguing that Facebook would be authorized if TikTok is no longer available.
“TikTok has a lot of good and a lot of bad. But what I don’t like is that without TikTok, Facebook will become bigger,” the 2024 Republican presidential candidate said this week in a phone interview with US cable network CNBC .
What happens after the bill passes the House?
In addition to constitutional concerns about preventing U.S. citizens from exercising their right to free speech, the bill may also be difficult to legally enforce and face challenges in U.S. courts.
“China’s export control laws may prevent the sale of TikTok algorithms,” Chin-Rothmann said. “Generally speaking, a divestiture would be very difficult logistically. TikTok is one of the largest companies in the world. So any buyer would have to be very large. They would have to have a strategic interest in acquiring TikTok, and then the merger would have to not cause U.S. Antitrust Concerns.”
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